FAMIGLIA

Shared by Joe Zenk
Holy Rosary and St. Ann Parishes, New Holstein
Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Kiel

Pope Francis offered these words on "FAMIGLIA" (the Italian word for FAMILY) at the Synod on the Family, October 24, 2015.

F - Forming new generations to experience love seriously, not as an individualistic search for pleasure then to be discarded, and to believe once again in true, fruitful and lasting love as the sole way of emerging from ourselves.

A - Approaching others, since a Church closed in on herself is a dead Church.

M - Manifesting and bringing God's mercy to families in need; to the abandoned, to the neglected elderly, to children pained by separation of their parents, to poor families struggling to survive.

I - Illuminating consciences often assailed by harmful and subtle dynamics which even attempt to replace God the Creator.

G - Gaining and humbly rebuilding trust in the Church, which has been gravely weakened as a result of the conduct and sins of her children.

L - Laboring intensely to sustain and encourage those many strong and faithful families which, in the midst of their daily struggles, continue to give a great witness of fidelity to the Church's teachings and the Lord's commandments.

I - Inventing renewed programs of pastoral care for the family based on the Gospel and respectful of cultural differences, pastoral care which is capable of communicating the Good News in an attractive and positive manner.

A - Aiming to love unconditionally all families, particularly those experiencing difficulties, since no family should feel alone or excluded from the Church's loving embrace, and the real scandal is a fear of love and of showing that love concretely.